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Iron Rule

Hong Kong’s leader urges civil servants to vote as a demonstration of loyalty, with state media demanding “unwavering support” for the electoral system.
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Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (李家超) sent a letter to all civil servants on October 28 urging them to vote in the December 7 Legislative Council election, calling it “a concrete way to demonstrate their oath to uphold the Basic Law.” The pro-government Ta Kung Pao (大公報), controlled by the Liaison Office, responded with an editorial stating civil servant votes should be “iron votes” (鐵票) — unwavering support for the new electoral system. The case illustrated how civil servants face mounting pressure, including in state-backed media, to demonstrate political loyalty through voting.

The 2025 Hong Kong Legislative Council election will be held on December 7. IMAGE: InMediaHK.

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